ADAMS: ‘The Hour Has Come’ To Stand Against Tyranny
Steven Rabb
Author, The Founder’s Speech to a Nation in Crisis
Hello Fellow Patriot,
In today’s quote, Adams makes his powerful closing argument for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He is all in. He is ready to sign away his life for something greater than himself – liberty. Adams was joined by 55 other men who signed the Declaration, pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for their country. That founding belief in the American ideal, and willingness to die for it, was passed from one generation of Americans to the next, millions sacrificing their lives and limbs to preserve our liberty.
On this day, most of us are not called to risk our lives to defend our liberty from external invaders. Thankfully there are still warriors among us who will and do fight to defend this nation. For us, our stand is against those who seek to destroy the American ideal from within. Our standing means making our voices heard in our communities, contributing to causes and campaigns that stand for liberty, supporting companies that believe in America, and voting for those who share our love for liberty. We may not be called to fall on the field of battle, but we can and must stand for liberty. Lincoln said it best:
“It is for us, to be dedicated here, to the unfinished work which they who have fought have so nobly advanced; that we dedicate ourselves to the great task remaining before us; that from the honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people — by the people — for the people — shall not perish from the earth!”
Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true, indeed, that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there’s a Divinity that shapes our ends. We may not live to see the time when this Declaration shall be made good.
We may die; die Colonists, die slaves, die, it may be, ignominiously and on the scaffold. Be it so. Be it so. If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready… But while I do live, let me have a country, or at least the hope of a country, and that a free country. But whatever may be our fate, be assured that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood, but it will stand and it will richly compensate for both. Before God, I believe the hour is come.
My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence forever!”
Our hour has come.
Blessings,
Steven Rabb
Author, The Founder’s Speech to a Nation in Crisis
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